Barkalow Middle School Teacher Joseph Lyttle Dies at 56

Obituary courtesy Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home

Joseph P. “Joe” Lyttle, 54, of Freehold Township passed away on Wednesday after a courageous battle with cancer at the AcuteCare Specialty Hospital at Kimball, Lakewood. Joe was born in Jersey City, raised in Hazlet and had lived in Howell before moving to Freehold Township in 1994.

He taught music at Barkalow Middle School, Freehold Township for 27 years where he orchestrated the 8th grade musical, chorus and summer band. He also coached the track and cross country teams. In 2002, he was named Monmouth County Teacher of the Year. As an avid runner, Joe ran in many marathons including the NYC Marathon. He was a parishioner of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church. With a passion for playing the guitar, Joe was a member of many bands, to name a few: Axis, the Ascots, and Fatty Manicotti. Joe was an avid Beatle’s fan and, most recently while visiting his daughter in London, was able to travel to Liverpool to visit the childhood homes of John and Paul. Most of all, he was a devoted husband and loving father.

Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joseph Lyttle in 1983 and Arlene Lyttle in 2012. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Barbara Lyttle of Freehold Township; three children, Connor, Caitlin and Meghan; a brother, Christopher D. Lyttle and his wife, Kim of Brick; in laws, Thomas & Barbara Powers, John & Tammy Powers, Mary & Robert Handy, Thomas & Susan Powers, Jennifer & Michael Hastings and James & Tracy Powers; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Sunday, February 9, 2014 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Relatives and friends may gather at the funeral home on Monday, February 10, 2014 at 9:00 AM for the procession to St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township for his 10 a.m. Funeral Mass. 

Cremation will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joe may be made to either the Monmouth County SPCA, 260 Wall Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724 or the American Cancer Society, 2310 Route 34, Suite 1D, Manasquan, NJ 08736. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.